Product Development MS degree

Program overview

The MS in product development is a leadership program designed for engineers, scientists, technical managers, and other experienced professionals who aspire to mid- and senior-level positions associated with product innovation. The program integrates business and engineering courses consistent with cross-functional, end-to-end product development, as well as the systems perspective critical to conceive, create, launch, and support today’s complex product portfolios.

To stay on the cutting edge, the program was designed by academic and industry leaders to integrate formal education with state-of-the-art research and best practices from industry. Electives and a capstone project provide flexibility to tailor the program's content to specific learning objectives of students and sponsoring organizations.

Curriculum

Product development, MS degree, typical course sequence

Course

Sem. Cr. Hrs.

First Year

ISEE-781

Excellence in New Product Development

3

ISEE-771

Engineering of Systems I

3

ISEE-772

Engineering of Systems II

3

ISEE-751

Decision and Risk Benefit Analysis

3

Choose one of the following:

3

ISEE-750

Systems and Project Management (summer)

BUSI-710

Project Management

ACCT-603

Accounting for Decision Makers (summer)

3

Second Year

MKTG-761

Marketing Concepts and Commercialization

3

DECS-743

Operations and Supply Chain Management

3

ISEE-798

MPD Capstone II

3

Engineering or Business Elective

3

Total Semester Credit Hours

30

Admission requirements

To be considered for admission to the MS program in product development, candidates must fulfill the following requirements:

Exceptions may be considered on a case-by-case basis. No graduate entrance exam is required, although candidates are welcome to support their application with results from the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or the Graduate Record Exam (GRE).

Additional information

Format

Students may start the program during any semester and complete the course work at their own pace. Classes are available online but several courses may be taken on-campus for local students.

Students may take up to three courses on a nonmatriculated basis. Credits earned while enrolled as a nonmatriculated student may be applied to the degree program following formal admission.

Quarter Curriculum - For Reference Only

Effective fall 2013, RIT converted its academic calendar from quarters to semesters. The following content has been made available as reference only. Currently matriculated students who began their academic programs in quarters should consult their academic adviser for guidance and course selection.

Program overview

Product innovation is essential to business survival and growth. The creation and introduction of new products and services has reached an unprecedented level of complexity, requiring the coordination of diverse teams of professionals from research and development, marketing, finance, manufacturing, procurement, sales, and service. Companies, especially technology-based organizations, need leaders with an enterprise-wide perspective and knowledge base in both engineering and management. This includes individuals who possess a broad blend of technical and business skills, understand markets and the value-chain, and have the integrated systems perspective needed to commercialize increasingly complex products and systems. The master of science degree in product development provides the educational foundation that technical professionals need for high-impact roles in product and technology innovation.

The program is for engineers, scientists, and technical professionals who aspire to product development leadership positions throughout their organizations. Designed by academic and industry leaders, the curriculum integrates business and technical elements to develop leaders with the knowledge, skills, behaviors, and perspective to effectively deploy best-in-class product development methods, tools, and practices. The program integrates formal education, ongoing research, and industrial practice, and continuously refreshes the curriculum through active partnerships with other world-class universities, research centers, and companies.

Students acquire the foundation skills and strategic perspective necessary to become future leaders and senior managers responsible for driving business growth through product innovation. They develop receptiveness to change and continuous improvement, an understanding of the enablers to business success, and an enhanced ability to recognize barriers to success early in the commercialization cycle, when corrective actions are least costly.

Curriculum

This is a 60 quarter credit hour program consisting of business and engineering courses (10 required courses and three electives) plus a capstone project (8 quarter credit hours).

Elective courses

Elective courses afford the opportunity for students to tailor the program to better meet personal and organizational needs. Three elective courses (12 quarter credit hours) are required. At least one elective must be from business and one from engineering. Recommended electives may include such courses as Managing Research and Innovation, Product Development in the Extended Enterprise, New Venture Creation, Supply Chain Management, Sustainable Design, and Advanced Topics in Product Development, among others.

Capstone project

Students must successfully complete a capstone project (8 quarter credit hours) during the final nine months of the program, based on a real-world problem often identified in the companies where they work. The corporate-oriented capstone project encompasses the broad integrative aspects of new product development. It synthesizes, increases, and demonstrates the student’s understanding and knowledge of previous program material and underscores the behaviors essential to product development leadership. The capstone project provides immediate benefits to sponsoring organizations and is an excellent opportunity for students to gain visibility and recognition. See the program website for descriptions of previous projects.

Product development, MS degree, typical course sequence (quarters)

Course

Qtr. Cr. Hrs.

First Year

0303-780

Excellence in Product Development

4

0303-784

Systems and Project Management

4

0303-786

Engineering of Systems I

4

0303-788

Engineering of Systems II

4

0101-703

Accounting for Decision Makers

4

0102-740

Organizational Behavior and Leadership

4

0105-761

Marketing Concepts

4

0303-764

Operations and Manufacturing Systems

4

0303-785

Decision and Risk Benefit Analysis

4

0303-787

Systems Optimization

4

Electives

12

Capstone Project

8

Total Quarter Credit Hours

60

Admission requirements

To be considered for admission to the MS program in product development, candidates must fulfill the following requirements:

Hold a baccalaureate degree in engineering, or a related scientific or technical field,

Have a minimum GPA of 3.0,

Have at least five years of experience related to product development (exceptions may be considered on a case-by-case basis),

Submit at least one letter of recommendation from a current or recent supervisor,

Submit a current resume,

Participate in a personal interview with the admissions team (after other application materials are received), and

Complete a graduate application.

No graduate entrance exam is required, although candidates are welcome to support their application with results from the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or the Graduate Record Exam (GRE).

All application materials are available from the Office of Graduate Enrollment Services or the program office.

Additional information

Sponsorship

Most students are sponsored by an employer who is committed to improving leadership capabilities in product development. Sponsorship includes permitting students to attend classes and also involves a commitment to work with the student to provide clear expectations and well-articulated career development plans that build upon the program. Candidates are welcome to sponsor themselves. Contact the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarship for information.

Format

Students may start the program during any quarter and complete the course work at their own pace. Classes are available on campus (evenings) and online to accommodate the needs of local students as well as those who travel or who live outside the Rochester area.